Marsa Maroc has acquired a Liebherr LPS 550 port crane intended for its bulk handling operations at the port of Casablanca. The equipment has already been shipped from Germany for its transfer to Morocco and, once installed and commissioned, will become the first rotating gantry crane of Liebherr's LPS range operating in Africa.
The new unit departed from the Liebherr-Rostock facilities aboard the heavy-lift vessel MV Patricia. The manufacturer confirmed in early September that the ship would transport two pieces of equipment from its maritime division from Rostock: a mobile port crane LHM 800 destined for Luanda, Angola, and the LPS 550 acquired for Casablanca.
The crane destined for Marsa Maroc is mounted on rails, incorporates electric drive, and features a 48-meter boom. Its configuration has been specifically defined for the bulk operations carried out by the Moroccan operator in Casablanca. The gantry design allows for the space under the structure to remain available and facilitates circulation and operations at the dock.
Liebherr states that the machine can handle different types of vessels and that its drive systems are designed to provide precise movements during intensive cargo handling cycles. Its installation has been configured according to the operational characteristics of the port of Casablanca.
The port infrastructure in Casablanca occupies more than 450 hectares, has more than eight kilometers of docks, and can simultaneously accommodate up to 40 vessels, according to data released by Liebherr in connection with the operation. The port handles container traffic, steel products, cereals, animal feed, minerals, and vehicles, among other goods.
Marsa Maroc managed over 19 million tons of cargo and nearly 1.1 million TEUs in its operations in Casablanca during 2025. Across its entire network, the operator manages 35 terminals distributed among 21 ports and moves approximately 67 million tons annually.
The acquisition of the LPS 550 expands the fleet of Liebherr equipment used by Marsa Maroc. In 2024, the operator received three LHM 550 mobile port cranes from the German manufacturer. Additionally, new deliveries of Liebherr equipment for terminals managed by the company in Nador and Tangier are planned.
The operation is part of Marsa Maroc's investment program to increase its cargo handling capacity at various port facilities across the country. The company is also developing the Marsa 2030 program, which includes initiatives focused on equipment and operational capacity.
A representative of Marsa Maroc stated that the incorporation of the first LPS from Liebherr in Africa is part of the company's development plans and the relationship it maintains with the German manufacturer.
Andreas Ritschel, general manager of mobile port cranes at Liebherr-Rostock, indicated that Marsa Maroc already uses Liebherr equipment at different locations and explained that the LPS 550 incorporates a new type of crane into the existing fleet, tailored in this case to the specific needs of bulk operations.
After completing its transport from Rostock, the LPS 550 will be installed at Marsa Maroc's terminal in Casablanca. Its subsequent commissioning will mark the operational entry in Africa of the first rotating gantry crane of this range manufactured by Liebherr.